Cumbley defends Solo Spring Championship Title

In a year that is shaping up to a huge show at Hayling Island for the National Solo Nationals’ and Nations’ Cup (July 13-19), the main players were on the water for the Solo Spring Championship hosted by Oxford SC. It came down to the final race and it was Charlie Cumbley who tacked on the gun, found pressure and a clear lane to take charge of the race. Cumbley extended to defend the title he won a year ago, Andy Davis finished second and Jon Clarke third.

After months of freezing temperatures and biting easterly winds the Spring Championship was held in very ‘Spring like’ conditions, hosted by Oxford Sailing Club. There was much confusion amongst the 67 helms as to what to wear, drysuit had been the default setting but the warm caress of the sun duped some into neoprene.

The north-north-easterly wind still delivered a punch and the erratic deviation of direction caused much head scratching throughout the day. The vagaries of the wind direction soon wiped any smile off his face and there were plenty in the queue who were equally dumped on, and from a great height.

Race 1 got away following a couple of false starts, black flags took out a few of the protagonists, Charlie Cumbley posted his intent with a win in the North Sails/Sailboat Solo and some considerable distance ahead of defending National Champion Andy Davis in the HD Sails/Winder. Jon Clarke in the Edge Sails/Winder was third.

Race 2 got away with a few casualties, Chris Brown and Micheal Dray amongst them. Cumbley and Davis were buried and spent the rest of the race making places like bankers make profits but could only manage tenth and thirteenth respectively. Roger Battersby nailed the race, finding the right shift at the right time and sustaining the lead. Simon Maskell took second, the Fishers Green sailor showing good early season form. Jon Clarke finished third and was having a stormer of a regatta. Ewan Birkin Walls in the North/Boon took fourth and his seventh in race 1 put him in a sweet position overall behind Jon with 3, 3.

Race 3 and all to play for. The pin end was favoured so there was a bunch down there and like the catchphrase in Highlander, ‘there can be only one’ Davis managed to squeeze through the bunfight. But this was all about Charlie despite a great effort by Mike Wilkie who half way up the beat looked like he had beaten the house.

Alas, the wind gods decreed otherwise as he was left out on the right. He must have said a quiet prayer as the breeze swung again and he rounded in the top five. Cumbley extended, Davis consolidated, Blundell took third to go with his fifth and Ian Hopwood found his form with a fourth and no capsizes.